Worcester hires consultants to help in effort to lure PawSox

WORCESTER, MASS. » The city of Worcester has hired two consultants to help it in discussions with the Pawtucket Red Sox about the possibility of relocating from Rhode Island.

The Telegram & Gazette reports the city hired Smith College economist Andrew Zimbalist and former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullan.

Zimbalist worked as a consultant for the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 2015, when the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox asked for $120 million in state subsidies as part of a plan to build a new stadium in Providence. That proposal died amid widespread public opposition. Rhode Island officials are currently considering an $83 million plan to keep the team in Pawtucket. MILAN » Organizers apologized Monday for a ceremony involving female models provocatively revealing the letters “A” or “B” to determine the draw for the ATP’s Next Gen Finals tennis tournament.

The ceremony on Sunday was supposed to highlight Milan’s status in the fashion industry.

“The intention was to integrate Milan’s rich heritage as one of the fashion capitals of the world,” the ATP and sponsor Red Bull said in a statement. “However, our execution of the proceedings was in poor taste and unacceptable. We deeply regret this and will ensure that there is no repeat of anything like it in the future.”

Earlier, two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo tweeted, “Disgrace,” while Andy Murray’s mother Judy added, “Awful.”